Metal rail-tie.



J. I. HOFFMAN.

METAL RAIL TIE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1014.

Patented July 28, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Zlnvcwfot O Jffijfman J. I. HOFFMAN.

METAL RAIL TIE.

APPLICATION rum) APR.27, 1914.

1,105,432. Patented July 28, 1914.

2 SHBBTS-SHBET 2.

JOHN I. HOFFMAN, OF ARDEN, WEST VIRGINIA.

METAL RAIL-TIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 28, 1914:.

Application filed April 27, 1914. Serial No. 834,759.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN I. HOFFMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ar: deli, in the county of Barbour and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal ltall- Ties, of which the following is a specification.

My invention comprehends new and useful improvements in rail ties and has for its primary object to provide a simple and inexpensive device of this characterthat may be readily stamped out of a single blank of metal and will serve in a most reliable manner to. securely hold rails in place so that creeping or spreading thereof is prevented.

Another object of importance is to provide a rail tie of the above mentioned character that is provided upon its longitudinal edges with upstanding flanges which serve to prevent persons walking on the ties thus eliminating possibility of loss of life through accidents.

Another important object of my inventhan is to provide a tie of the character described that employs novel means for clamping the rails, said means serving to brace the tie structure generally and being capable of being readily detached or attached.

Another object of importance is to pro vide. a novel rail tie that employs means whereby it may be secured in an extremely reliable manner upon trestles without necessitating change in the construction of the tie or trestle.

My invention further aims to improve ties of the character described so as to render them more practical, reliable and efficient, simple as to construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as areillustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out as claimed.

lVith reference to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the tie in assembled position with rails thereon, Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the rails in section, Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. i is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of one end of the tie showing the rail in place thereon and in section, Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the rail clamping members, Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the locking plates for the rail clamping members, Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the block employed when the tie is to be secured upon a trestle or the like, and Fig. 9 a longitudinal sectional view of the tie showing the same secured upon a trestle with the blocks illustrated in Fig. 8 in position.

. leferring particularly to the drawings by characters of reference the numeral 1 designates as an entirety my improved tie having mounted thereon rails 2.

My improved tie comprises a single blank of some suitable sheet metal preferably steel that is bent into a novel form to provide an approximately skeleton structure. My improved tie comprises an approximately rectangular base plate 3 that is formed intermediate the side edges of the blank of which the tie is formed and provided upon its longitudinal edges with upstanding flanges l. The material is bent back downwardly from the upper edges of the flanges 4 upon the outer side of the flanges and extended downwardly considerably below the base plate 3 to provide a side wall 5 for the tie. From the lower edges of the side alls 5 the material is bent back upon their outer faces of the side Walls as at 6 with its upper or free side edges flush with the upper edges of the flanges 4. It will thus be seen that a triple thickness of metal is provided adjacent the flange 4 and a double thickness at the lower edge of the sides of the tie. It will thus be seen that I have provided an approximately hollow and skeleton tie that may be readily clamped in a road bed and remain in proper position relative to the road bed owing to its peculiar construction. The side walls or portions 5 and 6 in extending into the road surface serve to anchor the tie securely in position and prevent accidental derangement.

To provide for the securing of the rails, I provide openings 7 in the flanges 4t and upper portions of the plates 5 and 6 upon 0pposite sides of the tie at the ends thereof, to receive the rails 2. The openings are approximately L-shaped and the horizontal portions 8 thereof receive one-half of the bases of the rails as shown in Fig. 4:. The vertical portions of the openings 7 are enlarged and on their outer sides inclined as at 9 so as to allow the rails to be slid into position with the innermost halves of the bases within the portions 8 of the openings. The bases of the rails 2 .lie transversely of and in engagement with the base plates 3. The upper edges of the flanges 4. and plates 5 and 6 are arranged to engage the under face of the heads of the rails on the inner sides of the rails as shown in Fig. 4:. It will be readily seen that the rails 2 may be easily positioned upon the tie. To strengthen the tie at the points where the openings 7 are,

arranged, rectangular reinforcing plates 10 are mounted upon the outer faces of the plates 6 and bent at their lower edges to engage the lower inner face of the plate 5 as at 11. Rivets 12 serve to secure the plates 10 and are inserted through the lower portions of the plates portions 11 of the plates rivets 13 are arranged longitudinally of the plates 5 and 6 and serve to secure the plates 5 and 6 to each other and to the flanges 1 as well as to secure the plates 10 to the side structure. It will be readily seen that the plates 10 reinforce the tie at points where the most strain is placed thereon.

To clamp the rails 2 in position, I provide approximately rectangular clamping plates 14 that are each provided upon one side face and centrally of their ends witha spacing lug These plates 14: are designed to be mounted on opposite sides of the tie and rail: at each of the ties as shown in Fig. 1, with the spacing plates engaging the inner side faces of the flanges 4. Certain ends of theplates 1a are provided with beveled under faces 16 that are designed to rest upon the The upper face of one side of the rail bases. upper edges of the ends that are provided with the beveled under faces 16 are designed to engage the under faces of the heads of the rails on certain sides of the rails. The

plates 14 are designed to engage at certain ends the webs of the rails and it will thus be seen that the plates let in being disposed described with the rails in engagement as eifect a secure clamping of the rails.

shown in Fig. 6 the rail engaging end of the plate 14 is provided with an approximately U-sha-ped metal clip 17. This'clip 17 is designed to be applied to the clamp plates 14: when their operative ends become worn and do not closely engage the rails. It will be readily seen that by the application of these clips 17 the severe engagement of the plates let with the rails is provided.

Operating in connection with each plate 14 is an approximately triangular locking plate 18 provided with a central rectangular 5 and 6 and bent back: 10. A series of.

opening 19 and preferably riveted to the upper face of the base plate 3 of the tie with the longitudinal edge thereof engaging the inner side face of the adjacent flange 4:. The plates 14 are each provided with a depending lug or projection 20 that is designed to fit snugly within the rectangular opening 19 in the locking plate 18. The plates 18 as will be readily seen serve to securely hold the plates 14 in clamping position and should it be necessary to tighten the clamping plates with relation to the rails it is only necessary to place a small wedge within the opening 19 so that the plates 14: will be moved into close engagement at their rail engaging ends with the rails. 1

To securely hold the plctes 14: I provide openings 21 in the plates and through the central portions of the spacing lugs 15.

This opening 21 is designed to aline with the opening in the upstanding flanges I and side plates 5 and 6. Bolts 22 are inserted through the openings described and nuts 23 and 24: turned on their inner terminals. The inner ends of the bolts 22 are provided with right and left hand screw threads 25 and 26,

respectively. The one 25 being arranged upon the reduced portion at the ends of the bolts.v The nuts 28 and 24: are arranged upon the right and left screw threads respectively, as shown in Fig. 5. It will thus be seen that the bolts are not apt to become accidentally deranged by means of the arrangement of threads and nuts described.

With reference to the foregoing description and accompanying drawings it will be readily seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive and highly eflicient tie that is capable of withstanding shocks and jars and is extremely durable. The arrangement of the clamping, plates 14, cooperating parts and reinforcing plates 10 provide a structure that is extremely well braced and not liable to derangement. The skeleton construction of the tie dispenses with uneven surfaces and eliminates track walking. The tie in being constructed of light sheet metal and arranged as described aflords the desired resilient action incident to the passing of trains over the track. I

Referring particularly to Figs. 8 and 9 wherein I have shown the block to be used for the tie when it is to be applied to a trescross stringers 28 of a trestle structure designated 29 as an entirety. The reduced and offset tongues 28 are arranged to extend over.

and engage the upper surfaces of longitudinal bars or beams 30 of the structure 29.

The body portions of the blocks are arranged innermost with relation to the beams 30 and the tie 1 is positioned upon the blocks so that the lower side portions of the tie are mounted on opposite sides of the block and engage the same. The upper surfaces of the blocks engage the under face of the base plate 3 at points where the rails are supported. Bolts 31 are inserted through the tongues 28 of the blocks, beams 30, stringers 28 and other beams constituting the structure of the trestle. The block may be secured in any suitable manner not shown to the tie and it will be readily seen that by means of the blocks 27 the tie is readily applicable to bridge structures and trestles without necessitating any material change in the construction of the tie or trestle.

In practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment is the most efficient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as set forth.

What is claimed is 1- 1. A rail tie comprising a base plate, upstanding flanges formed on the sides of the base plate, side plates integral with the flanges and extending downwardly below the base plate on opposite sides thereof, fastening means inserted through the side plates and flanges, said flanges and upper portions of the side plates being provided with openings to receive rails and clamping plates arranged at the ends of the tie and engaging the bases of the rails.

2. A rail tie consisting of a single piece of metal comprising a metallic base plate, an upstanding flange formed on each side of said plate, the material being bent downwardly back upon the outer faces of the flanges to a point considerably below the base plate, and bent upwardly back upon the outer faces of the downwardly bent portions and disposed flush with the upper edges of the flanges, fastening means inserted through the flanges and downwardly and upwardly bent portions, reinforcing plates secured upon the outer faces of the last named upwardly bent portions and being bent around the under edges of the clownwardly and upwardly bent portions to engage the inner faces of the downwardly bent portion, fastening means inserted through the downwardly and upwardly bent portions, flanges and reinforcing plates to secure the flanges, portions and reinforcing plates to each other, said flanges and upper extremities of the reinforcing plates and downwardly and upwardly bent portions being provided with openings to receive rails, the upper surface of the base plate designed to engage the bases of the rails and fastening means at the ends of the tie to clamp the bases of the rails.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN I. HOFFMAN.

Witnesses:

A. S. PoLINo, E. B. ROBINSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

